Nick Cripps

I've tried doing this using the "Club Reports" option but the output is not really in a useable form. It shows Membership Type as either Senior or CAA Registration whichever has the later expiry date (at least that what it appears to be). @Andy Symons - BMFA would it be possible to update this report to display BMFA/BDF Membership Category, Operator Registration and Flyer ID, along with the expiry date of each?

Hmm, I think I spot mounts at the rear for floats. I'm sure that didn't factor into your decision to buy this model, did it @Merry Mark?

Congratulations you have passed the Registration Competency Certificate! You answered 39 questions correctly out of 40. Done 😁

I stand corrected! I'll get on and do the test, then. I imagine this will catch many people out unless it is formally published to the various associations' members.

Well that's interesting. I use the A/B certificate read-across and have an email from the BMFA giving me a Flyer ID with an expiry date of November 2029. As far as I am concerned, I don't need to take the RCC or DMARES tests. PS - there are 2 spelling mistakes!

Clean and simple, it looks good as it is, Steve. Time to get back to gluing balsa sticks together.

You're welcome.

Christmas Day parkrun ✔️ Christmas Day flying ✔️ 400th flight of the year ✔️ Now it's time for the roast and a glass or 2 (or maybe 3) of wine 🍷 Merry Christmas everybody!

Old DX6i will be DSM2 but the AR6210 supports both DSMX and DSM2 so should bind ok. The usual problem with binding is having the tx and rx too close together; they need to be separated by about 2m ideally. Just a thought, have you plugged the satellite receiver into the main rx?

Just rowing back a bit, I've had another look at the DX6e manual and I think it can do all you want. This screenshot from the manual suggests that you can have 4 ailerons, 2 flaps, normal tail (rudder/elevator) and assign the motor to an optional switch. That is obviously 7 channels so I'm not sure how that works on a supposedly 6 channel transmitter but that's how it appears in the manual. I'd have to play with a transmitter for myself and see what it does to be sure. The mixes available give options for camber control using all 6 wing servos for crow braking (flaps down, ailerons up), flap-to-elevator (to compensate for pitch changes when flaps deployed), differential ailerons and different throws on the inner and outer ailerons. You can also do aileron-rudder mixing if required and even make it switchable between flight modes. I would suggest that you trial it all up on the bench first and see how it works. It could save a big spend on new equipment - unless of course you fancy a shiny new transmitter 😉 NB - use a spare servo in the throttle slot to test motor operation.

Might help if you tell us which receiver you've got.

I stated 10 channels as Spektrum don't produce a 9 channel receiver so the cheapest option available currently is the AR10100T. There's no benefit to spending more on a AS3X/SAFE receiver such as the AR10360T as you want the glider to respond to air movements to help you identify thermals. If you choose to y-lead the flaps then you can get away with only 8 channels meaning you could use the cheaper AR8020T receiver.

No need for y-leads if you use the 4 aileron, 2 flap option in sailplane mode. You will be able to connect each of the wing servos to its own output channel on the receiver and be able to set sub-trim, travel and reverse (if required) in this mode. You can find the manual here.

I assume by "factory reset" that you want to clear all existing model set-ups? The DX6i doesn't have an option to clear them all in one go, you will have to do as @shepeiro says and clear each model individually. You don't actually need to clear any individual model memory until you want to change it to suit your own model.

If you want to stay with Spektrum then the NX7e or higher have the 4 aileron/2 flap option in sailplane mode. The NX7e is a more basic set like the DX6e but, despite its name, has 14 channels so will cover all the requirements for your model and is available for around £250. You may also want to look at the NX8 which has better features and is generally considered the best value transmitter in the NX range; you can pick them up for around £330. The latest software update actually gives you 20 channels to play with. Either way you will need a 10-channel receiver to provide all the servo outputs you need for 4 aileron, 2 flap, motor, rudder & elevator. Using 2 separate outputs for the flap servos negates the need for an electronic reverser in the line (not recommended by Spektrum) or physically swapping one of the servos over. Or stick with what you've got and follow Jonathan M's advice regarding y-leads, differential settings and throws - it's certainly the cheapest and most straightforward option. You could always upgrade at a later date when you have flown the model and figured out whether your radio is a limiting factor for how you want to fly.

The OP must be looking for the earlier version, Steve. This is what my Phoenix 2000 looks like:

Best of luck, Matty. Keep chipping away at it.

Well, I'm glad we didn't need them here 🤣

I don't think you have put them the wrong way round, Cymaz. The picture of the full-size above shows the bracing on the wing struts to be opposite to that of the centre-section cabanes.

Our club adopted the same process during Covid lockdown and find it works well. As treasurer and club administrator on the BMFA site it is easy for me to check their membership and CAA Op ID status when renewing club membership. It's all just kicking off again now after holding our AGM last night and setting the fees for next year.

Another grand day out flying waterplanes at Kitridding, combined with a delicious Christmas lunch at the farm cafe. Just 8 of us, as my usual partner in crime @Merry Mark had work commitments unfortunately. First flight of the day with the venerable Skipper was cut short as the motor mount came loose and, interestingly, the ESC shut the motor down momentarily causing a quick dive down to the safety of the lake. Here it is on the way out as Peter taxies his Cub back to the shore. Out came the Valiant but, about a minute into the flight, the motor shut down and I lost all control. The Valiant dropped its nose and dived onto the grassy bank from about 50ft. After retrieval, the cause was traced to intermittent contact on the XT60 connectors on the ESC. These connectors rely on the springiness of the male pin and these relax after extended use so all tension in the connection is lost. I'll be replacing them with EC3 connectors in future - a much better design in my view. I managed to bodge a fix for the Skipper motor mount using cyano which allowed me to keep that flying up to lunchtime at the cafe. Christmas lunch was roast pork with all the trimmings, accompanied by mulled wine, and followed by Christmas pudding, mince pies and even some Christmas cake. I could barely move afterwards! We staggered back down to the lake about 2 hours later to find the wind had picked up, and from an easterly direction, which always brings jeopardy due to the hill and trees on the upwind side of the lake. I managed a quick flight with the LED-equipped Tundra as the light faded before a light drizzle sent the few remaining flyers back to our cars and we headed home. Despite losing one of my favourite models, it was another great day out at Kitridding. As Mike had commented earlier, where else in this country could you combine a day's flying with a fantastic Christmas meal on the same site?

Yes, but only on the ground 😉

Never mind the snow, I've been out for a bit of fun with the Skipper! Such a versatile model, everyone should have one!

I've added some self-adhesive LED strips to the wings and fuselage on my basic Tundra (the grey & orange one) which are wired in parallel in a harness connected to the balance lead on a 3s lipo. @Merry Mark's Night Tundra has factory-fitted LED strips let into channels in the upper and lower surfaces of the wing so they sit flush and are covered by white tape. This seems to diffuse the light better into the wing structure making the whole wing glow, along with an internal LED strip in the rear fuselage which, again, makes the fuselage glow and stands out well in the dark. Either way, both models are very visible at night making orientation much better than we expected and, as Mark says, flying formation seems easier as the other model is more obvious in your peripheral vision than in daylight. And it's a lot of fun!

Very sad news. Peter was an inspiration to many of us with his prolific plans, books and magazine articles output. My condolences to his family and friends.